Jacksonville University College of Law doubles student body
Jacksonville University College of Law
The Jacksonville University College of Law welcomed its fourth class of first-year law students on August 8, adding 72 new students to the school and more than doubling the size of its student body to 135 total students.
“We've got a full house now. We've got more space to grow, but it's really hopping here right now, and it's a great feeling,” said JU Law Dean Nick Allard.
Allard also announced that “every single one” of the new graduates from the inaugural JU law school class have jobs. The inaugural class graduated in May and sat for their respective bar exams in July.
Two new faculty members have also joined the law school. Assistant Professor of Law Melissa Coll and Visiting Professor of Law Priscilla Harris. Coll taught at Florida Coastal School of Law for more than 10 years following a career as a prosecutor and private attorney in Jacksonville, having received her J.D. from Stetson University College of Law. Harris is a Fulbright Scholar, and has taught law for over 20 years, most recently at Florida A&M College of Law. She earned her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Allard said JU College of Law will continue to “prudently grow” to meet a legitimate need to increase the talent pool of new lawyers in Northeast Florida and Jacksonville, which he describes as “an active, dynamic, growing community and city.”
Acceptance rates for JU Law applicants currently hovers around 25% due to the increase in applications, said Allard, who noted that new lawyers are in demand throughout the nation, as evidenced by an 18% increase in LSAT registrations nationwide over last year.
The new law students come from Florida State University, University of North Florida, Jacksonville University, University of Florida, New York University, Old Dominion University, and the U.S. Naval Academy, among other schools. However, most students are from Florida, with many from Jacksonville.
Emphasizing civility, professionalism, and ethics in his fall convocation remarks, Allard dubbed the law students the “Jacksonville Jedi,” invoking the Star Wars reference to remind the new students that “in addition to doing well themselves, they are expected to do good as well.”
“Law school is very hard, very serious; but our law school is not the place where fun goes to die,” said Allard.
